Study of Eu3+ tetrakis complex in different polymeric matrices as luminescent solar concentrator devices

Lanthanide complexes are promising for aplicattion in  Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) due to their high emission quantum yields in polymeric matrices. In this work, the tetrakis complex mtpp[Eu(tta)₄] was investigated as a dopant in hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), aiming to evaluate the influence of the polymer matrix on its photophysical properties. Films containing 1, 5, and 10 wt% of the complex were characterized by emission spectroscopy, luminescence lifetime measurements, FTIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), photoluminescence under UV and sunlight exposure, and intrinsic quantum yield measurements. PMMA, the conventional matrix for LSC applications, was compared with HPMC, a biodegradable alternative. The results showed that PMMA promoted more efficient incorporation of the complex and enhanced its luminescent performance, whereas HPMC preserved the spectral features of the isolated complex while providing a sustainable matrix for luminescent devices.